Chapter 17
Promise was out with her girls. They were child free thanks to Amy and Ayla, who were in town.
“Friend, your pregnancy almost over already. I know you glad.” Promise bumped Greer’s shoulder.
“I’m so glad ‘cause your brother got me so fucked up! He’s cheating on me. He thinks I’m stupid.”
“Amari, wouldn’t cheat on you,” Ace argued.
“Oh bitch, puhlease. He was literally talking to you, me, and Cookie at the same time. I don’t put shit past no nigga and especially not one with money.”
“Well, why do think he’s cheating?” Carter asked.
“Star told me for weeks, he’s been coming in sitting at the bar, talking to one of the new bottle girls.
So I confronted him about it… he said that he saved her from getting beat up by her boyfriend and put her and her son in a hotel for three months.
He claims there just friends but I don’t believe that shit. ”
“Well, maybe they are just friends. Me and Nautica was for a long time.”
“And now y’all fucking, got a baby, and some mo shit!” Greer challenged.
“You really think he’s cheating?”
“I know he is, and I’on even care right now. All I’m focused on is the kids. I ain’t got time to make myself sick worrying about that nigga.”
They finished eating before going their separate ways. Promise texted Amari, asking him where he was, even though she had his location.
Amari: I’m out moving around. What’s up?
She quickly texted him back, demanding to see him.
She sometimes hated that her friends were with her brothers because she was in the middle.
She didn’t know what Amari was up to but she hoped he wasn’t cheating.
By the time she made it home, he pulled in behind her.
He got out, hugging her with a kiss to the forehead.
“Are you cheating on Greer?”
“What?”
“She thinks you are, and for your sake, I really hope you’re not.”
“She’s my friend, damn.”
“You so stupid, Amari. Clearly, this is making your wife uncomfortable and instead of you falling back, you want to keep hollering, ‘She’s my friend.’ I called you here to give you a heads-up with hopes that you do the right thing but that’s on you.
Make sure you don’t call me for help when you get caught,” she warned, and he angrily glared at her.
“You’re my fucking sister!”
“Sooooo! I’m a woman, too, a woman that understands where she is coming from. She adopted your daughter. She’s pregnant with your second child, and you in her old job smiling in some bitch face every day.”
Shadow opened the door, looking amongst the siblings as they shot daggers at one another.
“Stay out my business, P.”
“Oh, I am and I really am when you ask for help.” With that, she walked away, leaving him standing there. She walked up on the porch, kissing Shadow’s cheek.
Promise was in the den with Lil Sawyer and Pryce, who were watching TV. The doorbell went off. She checked her phone as she headed to the door. She opened the door and her smile fell at the sight of Kemi.
“Wassup, Wifey? I missed you a little bit.” Kemi stepped in, invading Promise’s personal space.
“Girl, you know I can’t stand you!”
“Where’s my son and our husband?”
“Don’t make me put you out. Shadow is out of town but you probably knew that. Sawyer is in the den with me and Pryce watching TV.”
“Maybe, maybe not. What you doing for his birthday?” Kemi asked as she followed Promise.
“Why? I know you don’t think you’ll be included in whatever we doing?”
“Why can’t I be? I’m family, too. The sooner you embrace me, the better off we’ll be.”
“Don’t make call and tell him you’re here.” Promise walked in the room with Kemi behind her and Lil Sawyer rushed her. Kemi scooped him up, kissing all over his face. Promise’s phone rang with a call from Shadow. Her and Kemi locked eyes because she knew it was him calling as well.
Promise stepped in the hallway. She walked upstairs to their bedroom.
“Make sure you tell her don’t take my son nowhere.”
“Baby, how can I tell her that? That’s her child. You and Kemi not finna have me in the middle of y’all’s shit.” There was a knock at the door.
“Come in!” Promise yelled out. Kemi walked in. Promise passed Kemi the phone.
“I’m not leaving. I’ll be here until you get back so we can talk. I’m not trying to keep you away from your son, Shadow!” Kemi raised her voice. She hung up in his face, throwing Promise’s phone on the bed.
“Did Hubby cuss you out?” Promise teased while Kemi glared at her.
“Fuck him. He don’t scare nor run me. He got you for that shit.”
“You so big and bad say it to his face when he gets here.” Promise continued to taunt her. She walked past Kemi who followed her back to their children. Pryce was asleep in his swing and Lil Sawyer was on the couch.
“What you cook? I’m hungry.”
“Go help yourself, Kemi.”
“Damn, I’ma guest here that’s not how you treat company. I treated you like you wasn’t my husband’s other wife when you were in my home.”
“Come on. He’s my husband. Stop playing with me, girl. He stopped being your husband when you died.” Promise grabbed the baby monitor and walked out.
“But I’m not dead am I? Fuck Shadow, anyway that nigga ain’t my husband today.” Kemi washed her hands at the kitchen sink. Promise fixed her a plate. Kemi sat at the island.
“Oh now he ain’t your husband ‘cause he done cussed yo’ ass out. I’ma have to tell him to do that more often then.” Promise laughed.
“Anyways, can you show me to a guest room? I had a long flight.”
“You are not staying in my house, Kemi! I mean that!”
“Okay.” Kemi laughed. She continued to eat her food. Once she was done, she went to get Lil Sawyer.
“Where you taking him?” Promise asked as Kemi held him over her shoulder.
“I’m going to get a room.” She walked out, and Promise closed the door and locked it. She was letting Shadow and Kemi figure out their own mess.